Team Philippines wins gold, places 6th overall at first Asia-Pacific AI Olympiad

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The eight-member Philippine national team won one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals at the first Asia-Pacific Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (APOAI 2026), securing a historic tie for 6th place versus over a hundred of the best secondary school students from across 18 countries.

Locally hosted at the Ateneo Business Insights Laboratory for Development (BUILD) of the John Gokongwei School of Management, Ateneo de Manila University, the grueling six-hour examination tested the kids’ skills in machine learning, mathematical modeling, and algorithmic problem-solving.

image.pngEight Filipino secondary school students scored a historic win for the country at the first Asia-Pacific Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (APOAI 2026), holding their own against over a hundred rivals from across 18 countries. PHOTO CREDIT: IOAI PH

On Saturday, 27 June 2026, from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the Filipino students worked under strict international testing conditions, with no breaks and with independent onsite invigilators present throughout the competition. The final verified standings were released by the APOAI International Scientific Committee after a full score audit.

To ensure fairness across all participating countries and regions, all official contest sites were monitored simultaneously through live Zoom streams coordinated by the IOAI China Organizing Committee. Contestants also used the same high-performance AI GPU cloud environment, giving all students access to equal computing resources regardless of location.

All IOAI official contest sites were monitored simultaneously through live Zoom streams to ensure fairness across all participating countries and regions. The official Philippine site was at the Ateneo Business Insights Laboratory for Development (BUILD) of the John Gokongwei School of Management, Ateneo de Manila University. PHOTO CREDIT: IOAI PH Facebook Page

Leading Team Philippines was Noe Nathan Y. Arreza of Philippine Science High School–CALABARZON Campus, who ranked 8th overall and won the country’s gold medal. Troy Dylan T. Serapio of Philippine Science High School–Main Campus ranked 23rd and won silver. Daphne Eunice U. Acena of De La Salle University Dasmariñas High School ranked 42nd, while Jhareign S. Solidum of the University of Mindanao Ilang High School ranked 52nd. Both received bronze medals.

Ryan James L. Alfaro of Philippine Science High School–CALABARZON Campus ranked 88th, while Sean Marcus N. Castillo of Philippine Science High School–Central Luzon Campus ranked 95th. Both received Honourable Mentions. Completing the Philippine delegation were Ellison Matthew S. Ang of Philippine Science High School–Main Campus, who ranked 101st, and Aretha Cai Faustine M. Sy of St. Scholastica’s Academy of Marikina, who ranked 114th.

The Philippine team was selected through a rigorous, merit-based national screening process organized by the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence Philippines (IOAI PH). Participation in IOAI PH is free for students, in keeping with the program’s goal of making national representation dependent on talent, preparation, and performance rather than financial capacity.

“This historic performance establishes a powerful baseline for the country,” said IOAI PH Executive Director Martin Gomez. “This result belongs to far more than the students who sat the exam. It is a testament to the coaches who trained this team, the local staff who maintained competition integrity, and the families, schools, and communities who championed these students every step of the way.”

For the Philippines, the result marks a strong opening performance in the region’s first AI Olympiad. It also points to the growing depth of Filipino youth talent in artificial intelligence, a field that is increasingly shaping science, industry, education, and daily life. With the right support, these students show that Filipino talent can stand with the best in the region.

The Philippine participation in APOAI 2026 was supported locally by Joy-Nostalg, Times Paint Corporation, and the Tiu Family, with testing operations hosted by Ateneo BUILD. Globally, the Olympiad was supported by Taobao of Alibaba Group, Jane Street, and DP Technology.

For media inquiries, please contact the IOAI Philippine National Secretariat at press@ioaiph.org or info@ioaiph.org. Updates are also available at facebook.com/ioaiph.

The Invisible Killer: Why the World’s Most Urgent Crisis is Still Shrouded in Fog

 

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Every year, 6.7 million lives are cut short by a silent, omnipresent threat. It is the largest environmental health risk on our planet, a pervasive poison that doesn’t just infiltrate our lungs—it chokes the global economy, siphoning off $8.1 trillion annually. If the economic cost of air pollution were a nation, it would stand as the third-largest economy on Earth.

Yet, despite this staggering toll, we are attempting to fight a war in the dark.

In 2024, a staggering 36% of the world’s countries lacked the basic tools to monitor the air their citizens breathe. Nearly one billion people live in 71 nations where there is no evidence of government air quality monitoring at all. In vast swathes of Central Africa, South Asia, and Latin America, 300 million people live in regions plagued by high pollution, yet not a single reference-grade station shares open data to tell them what they are inhaling.

We are facing a lethal paradox: we have the technology to measure the problem, but we lack the will to reveal it.

The Data Paradox: A Choice Between Truth and Silence

Over the last decade, the democratization of low-cost sensors has made it possible to track air quality with unprecedented granularity. We possess the hardware to map every street corner, every industrial plume, and every urban hot spot.

So, why are the data sheets empty?

Often, the barriers are not technical; they are political and commercial. Governments, fearing that transparency might deter investment or damage tourism, frequently keep data behind closed doors. Corporations, meanwhile, often lock data within proprietary platforms, forcing communities to pay to see what they are breathing.

But the tide is turning. Experience has proven that when data is liberated, change follows. In Gambia, open monitoring networks empowered local advocates to catalyze landmark legislation for air quality standards. In Uganda and Kenya, hyperlocal data is no longer just being “collected”—it is being woven into the very fabric of governance, allowing cities like Nairobi to operationalize regulation that measurably clears the air.

The Five Pillars of Progress

To move from silence to solutions, the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Clean Air has established a manifesto for change. These five guiding principles serve as a roadmap for any stakeholder ready to prioritize human life over institutional opacity:

Mandate Transparency by Design: Open data should not be a post-project consideration. From the initial procurement of sensors, governments and funders must require that data be public, machine-readable, and accessible.

Assert Data Sovereignty: If the people generating the data do not own it, their ability to drive change is strangled. We must support systems that grant ownership to the user, not the sensor manufacturer.

Bridge the Gap Between Quality and Openness: Trust is the currency of policy. Reliable, high-quality data must be shared openly; otherwise, we risk either skepticism or misinformation.

Speak a Universal Language: We need standard protocols and harmonized formats. When data from different sources can "talk" to each other, it enables regional cooperation, cross-border accountability, and powerful scientific synthesis.

Data is a Means, Not an End: We must never forget that a spreadsheet is not the goal. The goal is cleaner air. Every byte of data must be a catalyst for action, policy reform, and measurable, tangible health improvements.

The Moment for Accountability

The infrastructure for a cleaner future is already in our hands. The sensors are built, the local leaders are ready, and the evidence base is undeniable. What remains is a choice: will we continue to treat air quality data as a proprietary secret, or will we accept it as a fundamental public good?

The choices made by funders, governments, and private companies today will determine whether the "data revolution" reaches the populations who need it most. We know the cost of the status quo—6.7 million lives and $8.1 trillion in lost potential.

The time for waiting has passed. It is time to clear the air, beginning with the truth.

Asia’s Superstar Kathryn Bernardo Cements Legacy with Madame Tussauds Wax Figure Unveiling

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Asia’s Superstar and Filipina actress Kathryn Bernardo officially unveiled her Madame Tussauds wax figure, dubbed "Kath-Win," on July 9 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City, cementing her place among the world’s most celebrated personalities.




The unveiling followed earlier announcements that the figure would debut in Manila before moving to its permanent home at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong.

Model and events host Janeena Chan, hosted the event who introduced Wade Chang, General Manager of Gateway Hong Kong, Merlin Entertainments.

Chang shared that Kathryn’s induction had been in the works for more than a year, recognizing her remarkable influence as a global Filipino icon in the entertainment industry.

A Year in the Making

An emotional Kathryn Bernardo reflected on the meticulous year-long process behind the creation of her wax figure.

The Madame Tussauds Hong Kong team carefully took hundreds of measurements, including her facial geometry and physical features, to ensure every detail accurately captured her likeness.

A Milestone Shared with Fans and Family



Bernardo dedicated the recognition to her loyal fans, her family led by her mother, Min Bernardo, and ABS-CBN executives who attended the unveiling, including President and CEO Carlo Katigbak, Chief Operating Officer Cory Vidanes, Star Magic head Laurenti Dyogi, and acclaimed filmmaker Olivia Lamasan.

"This is for you guys! For the fans, it's a win for all of us. I'm also glad they didn't change anything—it's exactly like Kath," Bernardo said.

Reflecting on the milestone, she added, "Every milestone has a story. I want people and my fans to know that they're all part of this. They believed in me, and I'm grateful that I get to do what I love, which is acting. Thank you for that." 

Hong Kong Holds a Special Place


Bernardo also reminisced about her cherished memories in Hong Kong, where she filmed the 2019 blockbuster Hello, Love, Goodbye.



"Joy will be there in Hong Kong very, very soon. Hong Kong will always have a special place in my heart," she said, referring to her iconic character in the film.

Joining an Elite Group of Filipinos

With the unveiling, Bernardo joins an elite cast of Filipinos immortalized by Madame Tussauds, including Manny Pacquiao, Pia Wurtzbach, Catriona Gray, Lea Salonga, and Anne Curtis.

Her wax figure will soon be displayed at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong, becoming another symbol of Filipino excellence on the global stage.





Written by: Renz Delim

Images from: Christian Gerona

Image credit: ABS-CBN Film Productions Inc. (Star Cinema)

Unified 911 launches real-time translation feature for foreign emergency callers

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Business sector, tourism to benefit best from new feature



With 400,000 to 500,000 tourists visiting the Philippines monthly and about 133,000 expats living in the country semi-permanently, the introduction of auto-translate technology to the Unified 911 emergency response system continues to revolutionize Philippine emergency communications.

NEXiS Connect, NGA 911's cutting-edge call handling system, can now automatically convert a foreigner's voice call from his or her native language into English or Filipino in real time. This enables seamless communication between callers and emergency responders, allowing Filipino call takers to instantly receive and understand conversations in English or Filipino.

The call handling system's automatic voice-to-text translation feature currently supports Spanish, Italian, German, French, Filipino, and English, with additional languages set to be added in the coming months as the system continues to expand its multilingual capabilities.

The new feature eliminates the need for third-party interpreters and speeds up the process of emergency response.

"Safety is a primary factor for global travelers," says NGA Philippines country head Robert Llaguno. NGA Philippines provides the next generation technology that gives Unified 911 its cutting-edge capabilities.

"Knowing that language barriers are eliminated by advanced AI removes the fear of being stranded during a medical issue or natural disaster while in the country. This makes the Philippines a more competitive, 'smart tourism' destination," Llaguno said.

Apart from voice calls, foreign tourists can also use familiar platforms such as the Unified 911 PH Facebook Messenger to reach local emergency services without needing a local SIM card or knowing local dial codes. Messages sent through the platform are received directly by Unified 911 call handlers, enabling them to respond through the same interface they use to manage emergency communications.

Together, NEXiS Connect and NEXiS Message help democratize public safety by ensuring that, regardless of language spoken, socioeconomic background or physical ability, every individual in the Philippines has equal, rapid access to life-saving aid.

NEXiS Message is a secure, encrypted communication and collaboration platform developed by NGA 911 that unifies emergency response systems, public safety communications, and first-responder coordination into a single, seamless digital workspace. It integrates Facebook Messenger, text messaging apps and traditional channels like landlines into a single interface at the Unified 911 command center.

NEXiS Message also enables call takers to respond in English, with their replies automatically translated back into the caller's native language to enable seamless two-way communication.

"In life-or-death scenarios like cardiac arrest, crimes in progress or blazing fires, a delay of even just 60 seconds can be fatal. NEXiS Connect’s auto-translation feature minimizes triage time because dispatchers can immediately identify the type and location of the emergency without wasting time trying to decipher a foreign language. Real-time translation also allows dispatchers to guide a foreign caller through critical procedures like CPR, applying pressure to a wound, or finding an escape route in a fire—without communication errors," Llaguno explained.

"Instead of dispatchers having to monitor separate screens for different apps, everything arrives in a single interface. The system allows citizens to send photos, live video streams and exact geographic coordinates along with their text. The secure workplace also enables the PNP, the BFP and local DRRMOs to securely view the same media files simultaneously, instantly verifying the legitimacy of an incident and reducing false alarms," Llaguno shared.

"NEXiS Message bridges the accessibility gap by integrating social media platforms and encrypted messaging apps into Unified 911 command systems," Llaguno said. "This ensures that public safety networks are designed for everyone, moving away from a voice-only framework toward an inclusive, multi-channel lifeline."

July, which is officially observed as National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) in the Philippines, is the perfect time to introduce these latest AI-powered enhancements to the Unified 911 emergency response system. It is an active step toward building community resilience, preparedness and effective disaster response.

NGA's cloud-native technology ensures that even if a physical local command center is compromised or flooded by a typhoon, emergency routing can seamlessly fail over to another location without dropping calls.

UPD Bio Students Explore Plant Morpho-anatomy Through Art

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Plant Morpho-ARTnatomy mini exhibition. (Photo credit: Eunice Jean C. Patron)




In May 2026, the Institute of Biology (IB) of the University of the Philippines Diliman – College of Science (UPD-CS) hosted the “Plant Morpho-ARTnatomy” mini exhibition, showcasing works by its Biology 101 students.




The displayed artworks featured plant specimens and structures studied by the students, rendered in various media—such as charcoal, watercolor, pencil, acrylic, oil, and pastel—on surfaces including canvas, paper, wood, and boards. Students who participated in the exhibition received bonus points upon submitting their art.




Biology 101 faculty-in-charge Dr. Erika Marie Bascos shared that her passion for art inspired her to initiate the exhibition. “During the pandemic, my kids encouraged me to start painting. I found it relaxing and helpful for anxiety, and it came naturally to me given my background in teaching drawing-based courses,” she said.




Dr. Bascos explained that the specimens they encounter in class—whether freshly collected or preserved—require students to draw and label their parts. These serve as study plates that they can review for exams. She noted that the students are highly skilled at drawing, producing detailed work using pencil and pen. They complete these plates during class and submit them after sessions. This observation inspired her to showcase their work in an exhibition.






Some of the artworks displayed in the mini exhibition.




“I was surprised that so many students submitted, and that they each had different styles—some were crocheting, others made 3D works, and some used clay. What stood out to me was how patient they were. One student even said, ‘Ma’am, I can’t do it,’ but in the end, his work turned out to be one of the best,” Dr. Bascos added. Most of her students had no prior experience making art, so she found it impressive that their outputs already looked skilled, even though it was their first time. The students had a whole semester to explore and were encouraged to choose whatever they wanted to create.




The artworks ranged from depictions of actual plants such as ferns and pitcher plants to their microscopic structures, including trichomes, plant crystals, and tissues. “Some of them may also want to become scientific illustrators. That would be great because they already have a background in art, and they understand morphology and anatomy as students of biology,” she said.




Janine Patricia Omalin, one of the students who participated in the exhibition, said she enjoyed the activity. “I’ve been drawing ever since I was a kid. I made it during my break,” she added, while showing her drawing of Pinus echinata, the scientific name of shortleaf pine.




Another student, Althea Bernice Javier, painted stellate aerenchyma, a tissue composed of star-shaped cells with large, interconnected air spaces that allow the rapid circulation of oxygen and can be found in banana leaves. “It’s my first time painting. I used to draw before, but this is my first time to paint. It was good to have the experience,” she shared.




Dr. Bascos hopes to teach the plant morphoanatomy laboratory again next semester and to hold another exhibition of her students’ artworks. Her students are also willing to donate their works to IB to help future Biology 101 students analyze the structure of plant specimens.




“What they produced was more than just artwork—it was proof that science and art can beautifully coexist,” she said. IB’s Biology 101 course discusses the morphology and anatomy of vascular plants.

The exhibit is open to the public until July 24, 2026

GSM Bar Academy gives PH bartenders the edge here and abroad

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For many young Filipinos, especially those hoping to build a career in the service industry, bartending has quietly evolved from side job to serious profession.

More than just serving up drinks behind a bar, the work requires a unique skillset that combines knowledge of a wide selection of products, technical precision, creativity, physical endurance, and most of all, the ability to connect with people.

And as the food and beverage, hospitality, spirits, and bar industries today continue to grow and evolve, it’s these qualities that make Filipino bartenders sought after all over the world.

For over a decade, a dedicated facility on the second floor of the Technical Education and Skills Development Administration (TESDA) Women’s Center building in Taguig City has been producing job-ready graduates equipped with bartending skills that catapult them into rewarding careers both here and abroad.

Dubbed the GSM Bar Academy, this hands-on training facility was built by Ginebra San Miguel Inc . and opened in TESDA in 2014, on the occasion of its flagship Ginebra San Miguel brand’s 180th anniversary.

Over the last 12 years, the GSM Bar Academy has trained GSMI scholars and delivered waves of Filipinos serving in high-end bars, cruise ships, hotels, restaurants, resorts, and hospitality establishments in different parts of the world. Many have also ventured into their own F&B businesses.

The Academy features a professional bar laboratory, a flairtending gym, and a fully equipped bar. Its program, developed and implemented by TESDA, involves three months of rigorous training that lets students master bartending fundamentals, beverage preparation, and teaches them customer service, workplace professionalism, and responsible alcohol service.

Once graduates earn their TESDA Bartending Program National Certificate II (NC-II) from the Academy, they are considered fully ready to join the industry and meet its demands and standards.

At the recent World Gin Day celebrations led by GSMI, a number of alumni reconnected with the Academy and assisted in the micro-credential bartending program that became one of the highlights of the event. Some of them proudly shared stories of their journey of success in the field.

“I’m very thankful for the opportunities the Academy has opened for me,” said Ann Rose Tapar, a March 2025 NC-II graduate now working in some of the top bars in Bonifacio Global City.

“Before joining the program, I never imagined I would have the chance to work in these establishments. The training gave me the skills, confidence, and discipline. More importantly, it helped me uplift my life, and showed me that with the right training and determination, bigger opportunities are possible.”

JP Peñaflor, a 2022 graduate who discovered the Academy through a Facebook post after completing his hospitality management degree, said he went on to become head bartender and mixologist at an Italian restaurant, after the program. He also won the 2024 cocktail mixing competition organized by GSMI for that year’s World Gin Day celebration. Today, he works at a five-star hotel bar in BGC.

“The training gave me not only skills, but also confidence,” JP said. “It’s not just about technical skills. It also develops your attitude, professionalism, and confidence. It truly prepares you for high-end hospitality. It has helped me pursue opportunities that changed my life.”

For Cherry Galit, the Academy came at a turning point in her life. She had left school to help support her family after her mother’s got sick. Through the program’s Technopreneur track, she and two fellow scholars were given a mobile bar to start their own business.

This venture has since grown to serve major clients, including GSMI itself, and now employs other Academy graduates.

“Hindi ako galing sa mayamang pamilya at hindi rin ako nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral,” she said. “Pero hindi iyon naging hadlang para maiangat ko ang buhay ko. Malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa pagkakataong ibinigay sa akin ng Ginebra San Miguel.”

For her part, Angela Felarca left a career in corporate finance to chase a different kind of future. She and her twin sister both enrolled upon seeing the GSM Bar Academy, as it gave them “the feels” of working in a real hotel bar.

Angela has gone on to become the first female bartender at a mobile bar company specializing in high-end events. She impresses clients with her flairtending skills and speed.

“What I found here is not just a new career— but my a new passion,” she said. “Every time I return to the GSM Bar Academy, I remember that this is where my dream began.”

In 2025, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited and took note of the Academy. After the tour, he called it a “national model for public-private partnership in technical-vocational education.”

Recently, Academy trainer Shella Bawar was recognized for achieving one of the highest employment rates among programs under the TESDA Women’s Center.

“The recognition is an affirmation that we are producing job-ready professionals equipped with the skills demanded by the industry,” said Bawar, now an ASEAN National Master Trainer and National Lead Assessor.

For her and the Academy, what matters most is their commitment to the scholars: equipping them with skills, transforming those skills into livelihoods, helping those livelihoods grow into rewarding careers or thriving businesses—and becoming a source of personal fulfillment and professional pride.

Ateneo aquaculture scientist Dr. Janice Ragaza appointed to leading animal science journals

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Ateneo de Manila University's Dr. Janice A. Ragaza is the latest of a rare handful of female Filipino scholars given editorial reign at some of the world's most prestigious academic journals in the fields of aquaculture and animal nutrition. Her appointments underscore the growing international influence of Philippine scientists in shaping the future of fisheries research.


As head of the Ateneo Aquatic and Fisheries Resources Laboratory, Dr. Ragaza is known for work on sustainable fish feeds, fish biology, and environmentally responsible aquaculture.



Ateneo de Manila University Aquatic and Fisheries Resources Laboratory head Dr. Janice Ragaza is one of the first Filipinas to serve on the editorial boards of several globally-recognized academic journals. 

PHOTO CREDIT: Dr. Janice Ragaza

With her years of experience in aquaculture research, Dr. Ragaza is a welcome addition to the editorial teams of two of the most well-respected publications in the field: Animal Feed Science and Technology is among the world’s leading journals dedicated to animal nutrition, feed development, and livestock production; and the Journal of Applied Aquaculture is internationally recognized for publishing research that helps move aquaculture science and practice forward.

A true pioneer, she is no stranger to the world of academic publishing: since last year, she has been on the editorial board of Discover Animals, and also holds a seat on the advisory board of Aquaculture Research.

At the helm of the Ateneo Aquatic and Fisheries Resources Laboratory, Dr. Ragaza has made notable contributions in the areas of aquaculture nutrition, fish biology, and biotechnology. Much of her work explores sustainable alternatives to traditional fish feeds for improving fish growth and health, such as indigenous/local raw materials, plant-based proteins, and agricultural by-products. Her studies have also been widely published and cited, advancing the field of aquatic research toward more sustainable fisheries management in the Philippines and beyond.

She has continually advocated for environmentally responsible aquaculture practices, particularly for economically important species such as the Nile tilapia.

Dr. Ragaza’s roles highlight not just her individual accomplishments but also the growing influence of Filipino and Southeast Asian researchers in shaping research and scientific dialogue in aquaculture and animal nutrition.

FAP holds Visayas Guild Summit

 

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The Film Academy of the Philippines recently convened the inaugural Visayas Guild Summit at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.

Bringing together 37 industry delegates, film community leaders, and both established and emerging creators, the summit marked the beginning of a regional mobilization aimed at formalizing grassroots film organizations into structured professional institutions.

The underlying spark for this event is a stark legal and economic reality. According to FAP Director-General Paolo Villaluna, roughly 80 percent of the film and audio-visual workforce in the Philippines operates entirely without traditional employer-employee relationships.

Without a unified professional framework, instability has long been treated as an acceptable norm. The regional workforce remains highly susceptible to contractual inconsistencies, standard registry deficits, and volatile project-to-project employment cycles. When standards do not exist, professional protections become subjective.

To break this cycle of precarity, the FAP’s Film Worker Development Division, led by Mackie Galvez, presented a comprehensive development blueprint at the summit. This strategic roadmap is designed to transition informal creative clusters into legally recognized entities through a clear three-tiered development: organization, institutionalization, and integration.

First, identify a committed core leadership group, sharpen a specific sector mandate, and foster communal alignment around shared regional concerns. Next, establish formal by-laws, build stable membership systems, and complete legal compliance requirements such as Securities and Exchange Commission registration, Bureau of Internal Revenue documentation, local permits, and dedicated financial accounts. Finally, connect newly formed organizations directly to national policy discussions, state-backed programs, and structural inter-guild collaborations.

Formalizing regional associations serves as the primary portal for local filmmakers to access major national resources. Under its revised operational framework, the FAP highlighted Guild Initiative Grants for project-specific development and Guild Operational Support Subsidies to alleviate administrative overhead.

The summit dedicated substantial focus to immediate welfare protections. FAP also hosted a Sine-Sandigan legal consultation. Sine-Sandigan acts as a centralized institutional platform designed to directly combat contract violations, non-payment issues, and safety breaches on set. It provides an active legal framework for reporting grievances and strictly enforcing the provisions of the Eddie Garcia Law (Republic Act No.11996) along with national labor mandates.

FAP is also launching a systemic overhaul of how the country's audiovisual workforce is documented. Historically, regional specialists have remained visually and institutionally invisible within government policy planning spaces due to a lack of empirical workforce data.

To fix this gap, the FAP is rolling out a centralized national membership data pipeline. This matrix provides independent practitioners with a verifiable, official Academy Member ID and an accessible Public Professional Profile. By creating an undisputed source for active industry workers, this infrastructure streamlines direct employment verification, connects regional talent to broader production networks, and guarantees access to foundational security initiatives.

FAP will hold the Mindanao Summit on September and the National Summit on November.

The India Paradox: Why Our Future Depends on the Doughnut

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India is a nation obsessed with the scoreboard. We measure progress in kilometres of highway paved, millions of houses constructed, and hospital beds added to the tally. We are masters of the growth metric, fueled by an urgent, undeniable need to lift millions into dignity.

But as the concrete settles and the skylines transform, a haunting silence hangs over our planning departments. We are building, yes. But are we securing our future, or are we cannibalizing it?

We are currently caught in a development trap: we chase growth indicators while watching our groundwater vanish, our air turn toxic, and our landscapes buckle under heatwaves and floods. The prevailing model—that we can fix the environment after we get rich—is a dangerous delusion. Nature does not offer grace periods for economic development.

It is time for a radical shift in our national compass. It is time to look at the Doughnut.

The Safe and Just Space

Economist Kate Raworth’s "Doughnut Economics" isn't a theoretical abstraction; it is a survival map for the 21st century. Imagine a doughnut-shaped ring. The inner circle is the social foundation—the absolute necessities for a human life: food, water, electricity, gender equality, and justice. No citizen should ever fall below this floor.

The outer circle is the ecological ceiling—the hard, non-negotiable limits of our planet. When we cross it, we destabilize the climate, destroy biodiversity, and poison the soil and water that sustain us.

Development, in its truest sense, is simply the act of living in the "safe and just space" between these two rings.

Moving Beyond "Counting" to "Judging"

For decades, India has excelled at counting. We know exactly how many toilets were built, but do we know if they are connected to functioning waste-management systems? We count housing units, but do we track whether they are built on floodplains that will be underwater in a decade?

This is the failure of the siloed, box-ticking approach. When housing, agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure are planned in isolation, we inevitably create "development" that destroys the very systems it relies upon.

The Doughnut approach forces us to stop asking, "How much money did we spend?" and start asking, "Does this project pull people out of poverty without creating a climate debt that our children will have to pay?"

The Laboratory of the Future

This isn't a pipe dream. In Maniyur, a Gram Panchayat in Kerala, local leaders are already putting the concept to the test. With their 2026-27 budget, they are attempting to weave social needs directly into ecological constraints. It is an experiment in radical accountability—a proof of concept that global economics can be adapted into local action.

If India is to thrive, this experiment must scale. It requires five seismic shifts in how we govern:

Integrate the Data: Every state economic review should include a "Doughnut Annex," mapping social shortfalls against ecological pressures.

Hyper-Local Profiling: We must stop relying on broad state averages that mask the agony of a drought-stricken village or a flooded urban slum.

Doughnut Budgeting: Move away from projects judged solely on cost. Require every proposal to prove it won’t deplete water, soil, or climate health.

Sustainability Audits: Before a road is paved or a factory zoned, it must undergo an equity and impact audit. Who wins? Who loses? And what does it do to the commons?

Technical Democratization: Our universities and research institutions must bridge the gap, providing local governments with the GIS data and maps they need to make informed decisions.

The Choice Ahead

The risk, of course, is "doughnut-washing"—the temptation to slap a fancy label on the same old destructive policies. To avoid this, the process must remain brutally honest. Trade-offs are real: a road brings access but increases land degradation; tourism creates jobs but drains aquifers. A true Doughnut-based plan doesn't hide these conflicts; it makes them the center of the debate.

India is not defined by its ability to replicate the industrialization of the past; it is defined by its ability to innovate for the future. We can either continue to be a nation that counts development, or we can become a nation that masters it.

The goal is clear: to build a country where every person lives with dignity, supported by a landscape that is thriving, not dying. The Doughnut is our map. Now, we must have the courage to walk the path..

The Missing Engine of the Green Revolution: Why Culture is Not a Luxury—It’s Our Only Hope

 

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We are currently sleepwalking toward climate tipping points, armed with spreadsheets, carbon taxes, and technical targets. Governments and industries treat the climate crisis as a math problem—a grim equation of parts-per-million, gigatonnes of emissions, and projected GDP losses.

But there is a fatal flaw in this technocratic approach: it fails to make a new future feel possible.

Economics can tell us why we must act, but it cannot make us want to. It cannot build the collective desire necessary to overhaul the way we live, work, and connect. For that, we need a different kind of infrastructure. As Mariana Mazzucato argues in her landmark 2026 policy brief, Climate Change and Culture, the arts and cultural sector is not a peripheral decoration to the economy; it is the essential social architecture required for a just transition.

The Great Miscalculation: Culture as a Cost

For too long, policy makers have viewed culture as an expenditure—a line item to be slashed in times of fiscal constraint. This is a profound error of logic. If we want to change the trajectory of our civilization, we must first change the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what we value.

Technocratic solutions may be the tools of the transition, but culture provides the meaning. Without the ability to imagine a sustainable life—one that is vibrant, inclusive, and deeply human—the transition to net-zero will always feel like a sacrifice rather than a liberation.

Four Shifts Toward a New Economic Reality

To bridge this gap, Mazzucato proposes four radical shifts that move culture from the fringes of policy to the very heart of economic strategy:

Directing Growth, Not Just Measuring It: We must pivot toward an economy that prioritizes creativity, inclusivity, and sustainability. Culture provides the roadmap for what this "better" growth actually looks like, moving us beyond sterile GDP metrics toward a vision of human flourishing.

Building Legitimacy from the Bottom Up: Climate policy cannot be top-down, mandate-heavy, and detached from the daily struggles of citizens. We must empower communities to shape policy through their lived experience, using cultural expression to weave policy into the fabric of local identities.

Recognizing Culture as Essential Infrastructure: Just as we invest in high-speed rail, power grids, and digital networks, we must recognize theaters, galleries, and community creative spaces as critical national infrastructure. These are the places where the social "connective tissue" of society is built and maintained.

Funding Culture as Investment: It is time to retire the "cost-cutting" mindset. We need "creative bureaucracies"—new forms of governance that act as partners in co-creation, investing in culture with the understanding that the return on investment is a more resilient, imaginative, and cohesive society.

The Future is a Collective Act of Imagination

The cost of inaction is catastrophic, but the cost of an uninspired transition is stagnation. To survive the climate crisis, we do not just need better technology; we need a cultural renaissance.

We are standing at a precipice, and the transition ahead will be one of the most complex challenges in human history. We can attempt to solve it through policy white papers alone, or we can embrace the power of the arts to build the legitimacy, the hope, and the shared vision that can carry us through the turbulence of change.

The future is not something that happens to us. It is something we build together. It’s time we treated our cultural life not as a luxury to be enjoyed after we solve the crisis, but as the very engine that will get us there.

This article is based on the 2026 policy brief, "Climate Change and Culture: Reimagining an Inclusive, Sustainable and Creative Future," authored by Professor Mariana Mazzucato for the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP).

The Last Line of Defense: Is the Global Plastics Treaty Destined to Fail?

 

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NAIROBI — The world is watching, but for those outside the heavily guarded doors of the latest International Negotiating Committee (INC) meeting, the view is painfully obscured. As high-level delegates converged in Kenya this week to hammer out a global plastics treaty, the atmosphere was thick with more than just diplomatic tension. It was a litmus test for the modern world: Can multilateralism still solve a crisis, or has it become an empty shell of bureaucracy?

For David Azoulay, Environmental Health Program Director at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), the stakes could not be higher. “The plastics treaty negotiations are resuming as trust in multilateralism is faltering,” he warned. “These negotiations are a test of whether multilateralism can still deliver.”

The Silence of the Stakeholders

Perhaps the most jarring element of the Nairobi gathering was the deliberate exclusion of civil society. While top-tier government negotiators filled the seats, the very voices most impacted by the global plastic crisis—communities on the front lines of pollution, health advocates, and grassroots organizers—were barred from the room.

For many observers, this wasn't just a logistical oversight; it was a fundamental moral failure.

“Shutting civil society out of the room is unconscionable,” Azoulay stated. “Participation is not a privilege; it’s a right.”

In an era where “informational webinars” have become the standard substitute for genuine discourse, the message from the sidelines is clear: you cannot build a just transition when you silence the people who have to live through the transition itself. Without these voices, the path to justice remains obstructed, replaced by the sterile, often disconnected calculations of state actors.

The Tyranny of Consensus

As delegates walked into the closed-door meetings, they faced a stark binary choice: surrender to the "tyranny of consensus" or hold the line for a treaty grounded in the harsh realities of science.

The pressure to settle for the "lowest common denominator" is immense. It is easier, faster, and politically safer to draft a treaty that focuses strictly on waste management—shifting the burden of the crisis onto local governments and recycling facilities—rather than addressing the toxic, systemic reality of global plastic production.

But doing so, experts warn, would be a fatal error. A treaty that ignores production levels is not a solution; it is a trap. “It would only lock the world into a nightmarish cycle of expanding plastic production and increasing plastic pollution for decades to come,” says Azoulay.

A Beacon of Hope?

Despite the closed doors and the bureaucratic maneuvering, a glimmer of defiance emerged. Reports from the floor suggest that even when the official agenda tried to sideline the topics of production and chemicals, a persistent coalition of countries refused to let the conversation die. They kept bringing the focus back to the root causes—the chemicals and the sheer volume of plastic being pumped into our ecosystems.

This resistance suggests that a significant majority of nations are not satisfied with a toothless, performative agreement. They are pushing for something that actually functions, something that future generations might look back on as a turning point rather than a missed opportunity.

The Road Ahead

As the world waits for the Chair’s official summary and the upcoming draft text, the message to those holding the pens is singular: Do not settle.

The global community is no longer looking for incremental changes or the illusion of progress. They are looking for a mandate that stops the crisis at its source. As the ink begins to dry on the latest round of talks, the question remains: will the final treaty be a historic act of global courage, or a monument to the failure of international cooperation?

For now, the world waits to see if the architects of this treaty will choose to serve the future—or if they will simply recycle the mistakes of the past.

The Invisible Cost of the Mercury: How Extreme Heat is Rewriting India’s Manufacturing Future

 

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Raj Pal finishes his 15-hour shift, but his workday doesn't end when he leaves the garment factory. Returning to his one-room home near India’s capital, he finds no sanctuary. The nights, once a cool reprieve, now simmer with trapped heat. "It feels like my hands will fall off from the shoulder," he says. Headaches and exhaustion have become his constant shadows, forcing him to miss shifts—a choice that slices a devastating quarter from his modest £200 monthly wage.

Raj’s struggle is not just a personal tragedy; it is the frontline of a systemic economic crisis. As India aggressively targets a monumental leap in textile exports—aiming to climb from $40 billion to $100 billion by 2030—a silent, invisible barrier is rising to meet it: extreme heat.

A Productivity Crisis in the Seams

For decades, India’s garment sector, a massive engine employing 45 million people, has relied on its competitive advantage of abundant, low-cost labor. But that math is changing.

Recent research from the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights paints a harrowing picture for the industry’s ledger. Extreme heat is no longer just a "worker safety issue"—it is a critical operational liability. Managers report that during peak summer months, productivity craters by 3% to 10%. The ripple effects are immediate: higher absenteeism, a spike in product defects, and the erratic pulse of machinery struggling under the strain of overheating.

"The key lesson is that heat can no longer be viewed solely as a worker safety issue," says Lucy Siers, co-author of the report. "It is increasingly an operational, productivity and supply chain resilience issue."

The Burden of Adaptation

The irony of the current crisis is that the workers bearing the brunt of the climate shift are also the ones paying the highest price for the industry's failure to adapt.

Apekshita Varshney, founder of the non-profit HeatWatch India, highlights a stark reality: "Workers are currently absorbing the largest share of the climate adaptation burden." While global brands and factory owners chase production targets, the human cost is rarely factored into the schedule. Instead of slowing down production to accommodate the sweltering conditions, factories often double down, extending shifts and mandating overtime to compensate for lost hourly productivity.

For many smaller factories, the financial resources to retrofit cooling systems or design heat-resilient infrastructure simply don't exist, creating a widening divide between elite exporters and the vulnerable backbone of the industry.

A Competitive Edge at Risk

The economic implications for India are profound. Dr. Anant Sudarshan, an associate professor at the University of Warwick, has tracked the data with chilling precision: labor productivity enters a steep, rapid decline once temperatures cross the 35°C (95°F) threshold.

"Extreme heat is very likely to be a meaningful challenge for India in manufacturing growth," Dr. Sudarshan warns.

The danger is that North India is becoming, in his words, "increasingly unattractive from the labor point of view." If the factory floor becomes an inferno, the competitive edge that propelled India’s textile dominance begins to evaporate. This isn't just an Indian concern; it is a global one. A 2023 study by Cornell University estimated that if Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan, Vietnam, and India fail to adapt to heat and flooding, the regional apparel industry faces a staggering $65 billion loss and the evaporation of one million jobs by 2030.

The Path Forward: Resilience or Ruin?

Is India’s manufacturing ambition doomed to melt away? Not necessarily. Experts argue that heat is a predictable threat, and therefore, a manageable one.

"Extreme heat is a real threat to India's manufacturing ambitions if it is ignored, but if addressed well it should not be an inevitable barrier to growth," says Siers.

The solution, however, requires a radical shift in corporate strategy. It demands smarter factory design, rigorous heat monitoring, and a departure from the "grind-through-it" culture that ignores the physiological limits of the workforce. Manufacturers that prioritize resilience—viewing cooling systems and worker-rest practices as essential investments rather than overhead—will be the ones that survive the warming world.

For workers like Raj Pal, the stakes could not be higher. His story is the heartbeat of a massive industry currently standing at a crossroads. As he navigates another sleepless, stifling night, the question remains: will the industry find the shade it needs to sustain its growth, or will it continue to burn through the very people who make it possible?

The Plastic Reckoning: A Final Chance to Save Our Future

 

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The year is 2026. The stage is set, the tension is palpable, and the stakes could not be higher. For years, the world has watched as the flood of plastic pollution choked our oceans, invaded our food chains, and infiltrated our very bodies. Now, as the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee enters a critical new phase under the leadership of Chilean Ambassador Julio Cordano, humanity faces a defining moment.

We are not just talking about litter on a beach. We are talking about a systemic crisis that threatens the fundamental foundations of planetary health. As Simon Beaudoin and Peter Dauvergne recently argued in The Lancet Planetary Health, the path to a global plastics treaty is at a crossroads. Will we succumb to the pressure of short-term economic convenience, or will we have the courage to secure a livable future?

The message from experts is clear: an effective, equitable, and just treaty must move beyond mere waste management. It must address the source. Here are the four pillars of survival for our planet.

1. The Right to Breathe: A Stand-Alone Health Article

For too long, the devastating human and ecological impacts of plastics have been relegated to the sidelines of policy. It is time to center them. We need a dedicated, legally binding health article within the treaty. This isn't just bureaucracy—it is a moral imperative. This article must define the rights and responsibilities of nations to protect their people, explicitly tackling the insidious threats of microplastics and nanoplastics that have been largely ignored for far too long.

2. Stemming the Tide: Capping Production

You cannot fix a leak by mopping the floor while the tap is running full force. The constant, relentless production of plastics is the tap, and it must be throttled. We must phase out non-essential and single-use plastics immediately. Furthermore, we must implement a production fee that forces corporations to pay for the "externalities"—the true, hidden costs of the social and ecological havoc their products wreak. If it is too cheap to produce, it will continue to poison the world.

3. Cleaning the Chemistry: Eliminating Toxic Additives

Plastic is not just a material; it is a cocktail of chemicals, many of which are hazardous to human health. The treaty must mandate the phase-out of toxic additives. We need a global commitment to "smart design," fostering innovation in safer materials and public-private collaborations that prioritize health over the bottom line. Developing clean, sustainable standards for plastic design is the only way to mitigate the harm already embedded in our infrastructure.

4. Justice for the Frontlines: Financial Mechanisms

A treaty is only as strong as its implementation. Many nations and frontline communities—including Indigenous peoples and waste pickers—are ready to lead the transition to a sustainable future but lack the capital to do so. We must redirect the massive subsidies currently fueling the production of virgin plastics toward research, sustainable innovation, and the support of the communities on the front lines of this crisis. True justice requires providing the resources necessary for those most harmed to become the architects of their own recovery.

The Danger of Compromise

As negotiations continue, the pressure on delegates to water down these principles in the name of "consensus" will be immense. To buckle under that pressure would be a historic error.

We are not choosing between the economy and the environment; we are choosing between continued degradation and a sustainable, healthy future for ourselves and generations to come. The window of opportunity is closing. The science is settled. The path forward is mapped.

Now, we only need the political courage to walk it.

The Gulf Echo: Can Kerala Survive the Sunset of a Remittance Economy?

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For over five decades, the "Gulf Dream" has been the heartbeat of Kerala. It built the homes, funded the education, and paved the roads of a state defined by the steady, rhythmic flow of remittances. But today, the rhythm is faltering. As the West Asia crisis deepens, millions of livelihoods—1.5 to 2 million in Kerala alone—hang in a precarious balance.

The question facing the state is no longer just economic; it is existential. With the traditional migrant pipeline constricting, Kerala is being forced to confront a sobering reality: the era of relying on the desert’s wealth is nearing its twilight.

The Human Cost of Geopolitical Shifts

Behind the macroeconomic data are the quiet, harrowing stories of families like Cinil’s and Lijesh’s. For them, the "crisis" is not a headline—it is a closed factory door, a forced month of unpaid leave, and the crushing weight of unshared anxiety.

As hospitality, construction, and logistics sectors across the Gulf contract, the safety net that has sustained Kerala for generations is fraying. "300 to 350 families were pushed into uncertainty almost overnight," says Baheej, a long-time Gulf worker from Kozhikode, describing the sudden mass layoffs in the hospitality sector.

Yet, paradoxically, the money is still flowing—remittances rose 70% this past April compared to the previous year. It is a classic "remittance lag," a final surge before the inevitable decline that leaves officials and economists bracing for a post-Gulf future.

The Green Mirage vs. The Reality

The proposed solution, championed by reports like that of IPE Global, is a pivot to a green economy. The logic is compelling: redirect existing massive government architecture—like PM-KUSUM and the National Green Hydrogen Mission—to unlock billions in green investment, potentially creating 35 million jobs nationwide by 2047.

However, a cold reality check reveals a profound disconnect. The jobs being lost—drivers, hospitality staff, construction workers—do not align with the technical, high-skill requirements of a green energy revolution. Furthermore, the geography of India’s green transition is shifting toward the vast, sun-drenched plains of Rajasthan and the industrial corridors of Gujarat, not the fragmented, densely populated backwaters of Kerala.

The Kerala Pivot: Beyond the Solar Playbook

If Kerala cannot copy the "Rajasthan Model" of utility-scale solar parks, what is its path forward?

Abinash Mohanty, lead author of the IPE Global study, suggests that Kerala’s strength has never been its hectares of land, but its human capital. "Kerala’s future lies not in manufacturing solar panels, but in becoming India’s hub for green services—climate fintech, renewable energy project management, and marine and coastal resilience engineering," he notes.

To bridge the gap between a returning, displaced workforce and a future economy, the state needs a radical, three-pronged strategy:

Surgical Reskilling: Moving away from general training toward specialized, industry-linked certifications that place workers directly into the green services sector.

Wage-Seeker Support: While schemes like NDPREM offer a lifeline to entrepreneurs, the state must expand its safety net to provide immediate, dignified wage-employment opportunities for those returning without capital.

Blue-Economy Integration: Capitalizing on its unique geography by investing in sustainable fisheries, marine industry innovation, and eco-tourism—sectors that align with the state’s natural assets rather than trying to force-fit industrial-scale green manufacturing.

The Final Test

The history of Kerala’s response to crisis—from the 1990 Gulf War to the COVID-19 pandemic—is one of resilience and adaptation. The infrastructure for support exists, from NORKA Roots to sophisticated entrepreneurship training.

But as the tide of the Gulf economy recedes, the window to act is narrowing. The test for Kerala will not be found in the grandiose projections of 2047, but in the immediate, human-scale successes of the next few years. Can the state successfully transform its greatest liability—a shrinking reliance on external labor markets—into its greatest asset: a highly literate, internationally exposed workforce ready to lead the green service revolution?

The Gulf dream may be fading, but the work of building a new future for its returning sons and daughters has only just begun.

Understanding the Context: The Wider Climate Lens

This shift in Kerala’s economic landscape is occurring against a backdrop of global climate instability. From the devastating, unprecedented intensity of Mumbai’s recent monsoons to the World Bank’s controversial decision to retreat from its 45% climate finance target under US pressure, the global climate response is increasingly defined by "climate-plus-exposure" risks.

For Kerala, this means the transition to a green economy is not a choice—it is a necessary shield against the twin threats of regional geopolitical instability and a warming, unpredictable planet. The state finds itself at a unique junction: it must navigate the sunset of one era while engineering the sunrise of another, proving that while geography may dictate opportunity, human ingenuity determines the outcome.

What specific skills or industries do you believe are most vital for Kerala to prioritize to ensure its returning workforce finds a sustainable foothold in the coming years?

Immortalized in Wax: The Extraordinary Journey of Madame Tussauds

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Step into a world where the line between reality and artistry blurs—a place where legends are frozen in time, capturing the very essence of human greatness. Madame Tussauds Hong Kong offers more than just a gallery of wax figures; it is a stage for the extraordinary, bridging the gap between history, entertainment, and the stars we admire most.

The Legacy of a Visionary

The magic began centuries ago with Marie Grosholtz, a pioneering French wax sculptor whose incredible artistry brought this global attraction to life. Long before her creations became world-famous, Tussaud witnessed history, sculpting everyone from the figures of the French Revolution to celebrated minds like Voltaire. Her legacy lives on today, inviting visitors to meet the creative force behind this timeless institution.

Filipino Icons: Stars Under the Spotlight

The red walls of the exhibit shine with pride as they showcase the Filipino icons who have been immortalized within these halls. These figures represent the height of achievement across various fields:

Pia Wurtzbach - Miss Universe 2015

Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao - Heavyweight boxing champion

Catriona Gray - Miss Universe 2018

Anne Curtis - Iconic host and actress

Kathryn Bernardo Asia’s Superstar

The Alchemy of Artistry: The Makings of a Masterpiece

Ever wondered how a superstar is transformed into a permanent fixture of history? The process is a staggering display of precision and devotion. Creating a single Madame Tussauds figure is a monumental task that requires:

The Sitting: The journey begins with precision, as experts take 250 meticulous body measurements and hundreds of photos to capture every angle and skin tone.

Sculpting & Moulding: Sculptors replicate every bone and muscle, using roughly 150 kg of clay to shape the head. Crafting the mould requires an additional 170 hours of craftsmanship.

Intricate Details: The process involves inserting every single hair strand by hand—an intricate procedure taking approximately five weeks.

The Finishing Touch: Artists use a palette of over 20 different colors to achieve lifelike skin tones, while eyes are hand-painted, taking 15 hours per eyeball. Teeth are individually crafted using dental acrylic for an additional 50 hours of work.

From the initial sitting to the final styling, every figure is a result of extensive research and tireless effort to capture the celebrity’s true essence. Whether it is the star-studded halls or the intense artistry behind the scenes, Madame Tussauds remains a testament to the enduring power of human talents. 

A Phenomenal Milestone: Kathryn Bernardo Immortalized at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong

 

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The air in Manila crackled with excitement on July 9, 2026, as fans gathered at the Glorietta Activity Center to witness a historic moment for Philippine entertainment. In a grand, star-studded unveiling, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong officially introduced the wax likeness of Filipino superstar Kathryn Bernardo, solidifying her status as an icon on the global stage.

From Child Star to Global Icon

Kathryn Bernardo’s journey to being immortalized is a testament to her two decades of unrivaled success in film and television. Rising to fame as a child star in 2003, she has since become a powerhouse, beloved for blockbuster hits like The Hows of Us, A Very Good Girl, and Hello, Love, Goodbye—the latter of which was set in Hong Kong, the very city that will now serve as the permanent home for her wax replica.

As the fifth Filipino to join this esteemed roster—following legends like Pia Wurtzbach, Catriona Gray, Manny Pacquiao, and Anne Curtis—Bernardo’s inclusion celebrates not just her talent, but the enduring power of Filipino artistry.

The "Kath-Twin": A Moment Frozen in Time

The wax figure, affectionately referred to as the "Kath-twin," captures a defining moment in Bernardo’s career: the night she received the Outstanding Asian Star Award in Seoul in 2023. Expert sculptors at Madame Tussauds meticulously replicated her look from that evening, including the original gown designed by Filipino fashion icon Martin Bautista.

"My wax figure is a reminder that big dreams are valid, and Filipino talent belongs on the global stage," Bernardo shared during the event. "I'm just so proud to be here as a Filipina, and I hope it makes everyone feel the same about who we are and what we can do".

Experience the Magic in Hong Kong

Starting July 17, fans can visit Madame Tussauds Hong Kong to interact with the "Kath-twin" firsthand. The attraction offers a truly star-studded experience, featuring themed zones like the Hong Kong Glamour Zone, Fashion Zone, Music Icon, and the K-Wave Zone.

For those planning to visit this summer, an exclusive offer is available:

The Bundle: Secure a ticket, a Digital Photo, and a Guidebook for just HK$271.

The Deadline: This special offer is available until August 31, 2026.

How to Book: Visit the official Madame Tussauds Hong Kong website and use the special promo code "Kathcakes" to book your adventure today.

Don't miss the chance to come face-to-face with Asia's Superstar and witness a true celebration of Filipino pride.